So yeah, this and the series review today. We’ll see how the rest pans out for the month lol.
Customary warning: This is a reminder that these are my personal opinions. My thoughts and feelings are not your thoughts and feelings. I may not always be the target audience for a book; sometimes I am. If I do not like a book, that doesn’t mean you’ll dislike it. If I love a book or simply like a book, you may hate it. Take everything I say with this knowledge. If it sounds interesting to you despite what I’ve said, then go ahead and read it. You’ll only know you like something if you read it yourself.
That being said… Spoilers ahead.
The Hawkweed Legacy by Irena Brignull
Synopsis From The Book
Poppy Hooper doesn’t want to be queen of the witches, but some problems can’t be left behind. Some love stories can’t be forgotten. Some friendships won’t be broken. And some enemies won’t stay dead…
The battle for the throne isn’t over yet.
Poppy has only just discovered her position and power as queen of the covens. Tormented by the loss of her would-be lover, Leo, to her best friend, Ember, and a past that’s shadowed by secrets, she’s left her dangerous world of witches and flown to Africa. But Poppy never stops longing for Leo. When she feels his magic begin to spark, she will do anything to be reunited with him.
Now as the girls come of age and Poppy’s powers grow stronger, her mother, desperate for her daughter’s return and forgiveness, sets into motion a plan that puts Poppy, Ember, the boy they love, and the world as they know it at risk.
Fantasy | YA – PW | Non-consensual sex (both sides), capture, memory loss | Identity, Friendship, Loyalty, Love
Initial Thoughts Before Reading:
Alright, second book of this duology. I really hope that it is a duology. (Just checked, it is). There will be a series review for this. I did have to go back and reread my old book review, because I haven’t read it in a long while. I can’t wait to let my aunt read this, because she read the first one. I bet she’d appreciate being able to read the second one.
Initial Thoughts After Reading:
Well that was a book, and an ending. WOW. So much happened lol. I really don’t know what else to say. I will say that my book review for the first book was pretty lacking. I talked about, nothing hahahaha. I’ll go into a bit more detail here for the plot at least.
Plot Overview:
Following the events for the first book, Poppy disappears and runs away not wanting to be Queen. She turned into a bird and flew all the way to Africa where she was taken care of by a boy and his grandmother. By staying with them, Poppy learned that she wanted to heal. When Poppy wants to go home, the grandmother will not let her, in order to protect her because she is in mortal danger if she goes back.
Back at home. Leo and Ember are working on Ember’s soap business and trying to be together but Leo still only loves Poppy and Ember feels second best. Leo ends up running from her and not knowing what to do with himself. That is when he awakens his magic. Ember, on the other hand meets a reporter by the name of Nick. He’s charming but she doesn’t trust him. Melanie, Ember’s bio mom and Poppy’s mother who raised her, is severely depressed.
Betony, a woman with no memories, is found by Charlock. Poppy has been gone for 4 months, and she wants to have Betony meet Leo, her son, and use Leo to bring Poppy back home. They find Leo with Ember, and call Poppy back with his magic. Poppy breaks free from the magic of Mma, the grandmother, and returns to Leo. They make up and Poppy goes to confront the Witches who started to retaliate in the time she was gone. Sorrel, who was taken over by her mother Raven, ends up using a love potion on Leo and sleeping with him against his consent (rape) at the control of her mother. (So basically Raven controlled Sorrel to control Leo. Raven is horrible). Poppy regains control over her people but is seen by Nick. Nick, Ember slept with after Leo left again. She accidentally told him everything, and he was going to use it to get his big break. Poppy wipes his memory and sends Ember away to Europe to disappear.
Leo gives himself up in his anguish for what he did with Sorrel. Poppy saves him and swears that she will be their queen and nothing else. Betony tries to kill her because Leo will never stop trying to be with Poppy, or will kill himself trying. Charlock gives up her own life to save Poppy. Poppy and Leo rekindle. Poppy forgives Sorrel (more because it wasn’t Sorrel’s fault. It was Ravens) and Betony. Betony gave Poppy freedom, for the Queen stone now only says Hawkweed (instead of Poppy Hawkweed). Poppy makes a comment that the child Sorrel carries (Leo’s kid) will be powerful and that Sorrel will be their queen and Poppy will help her when needed. Leo goes to his grandparents (of his dad) to meet them. Poppy, Betony, and Melanie got to Europe with Ember, knowing Leo will join them soon.
Extra note: While the main story is being told, the back story of when Charlock got pregnant with Poppy and Betony got pregnant with Leo is told. Betony met Danny, Leo’s father, at a party. They became close. She fell in love with him. She got pregnant by him (which he 100% didn’t want, because he asked if they needed protection and she totally didn’t understand, but she was also trying to get pregnant so…) and ran away to be with him when she learned the child would be a boy. He was going to raise the kid, his parents disagreed. The witches went for Betony and she scared Danny with her powers. She ran away and ended up giving birth, however at the same time Charlock and Raven found Danny. He threatened them to stay away from Betony because he did still love her, and Charlock killed Danny. Then they took Betony’s memories away, after Betony had given her child to the woman who would later raise Leo.
What I Liked:
Character Progression; I feel that I got to know a lot more about Charlock in this book. Also seeing how Leo, Poppy, and Ember grew was lovely. I didn’t write much about each of them in the first review, so I can’t say much here on exactly how they progressed.
Poppy x Leo; It was cute. It was, but it was also a little obsessive. haha. I still was okay with it tho.
Poppy and Ember; I’m really happy that they staid such good friends. Ember hating Poppy would have just been too easy. This relationship is easily my favorite.
Writing style; The first book and this book were written so fluidly.
What I Would Have Liked or Changed:
Everyone gets pregnant so quick if you are a witch. They must time it perfectly. They’re fertility is amazing.
Rating: 4/5
Notable Quotes:
“For her tears refused to be forgotten.” – pg 2
“I can’t die now, she thought. I’ve come so far. And I don’t know who I am yet.” – pg 4
“But this was the first and the last combined, with all the passion of both the beginning and the end.” – pg 229
Marlena Marie 
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